After bouncing around on the MMM blog for a bit and I decided to be systematic and just read every post starting from the first. I thought the challenge to save $100 this week was a gem - it's less daunting than a lot of the other challenges and it is a good place for me to start. So, this Sunday (May 7th) I decided to take up the challenge. From YNAB data in my current budget I learned that, excluding rent and segregated fees, I spent a total of $4954 over the last 8 months (242 days to be exact). This comes down to about $20 per day. So, in an average week, I spend about $140. The reason I excluded rent and seg fees from these numbers is that those expenses happen on set dates and are fixed (I'm moving to a cheaper house this month though!). Anyway, let's not worry about the details, I just wanted a number to work with for my challenge. The first benefit of that challenge was just getting that number. Wow, that number is so high! I like to think that I live fairly frugally. So upon reading the challenge I initially thought it made no sense for me to do the challenge cause I thought my weekly spending was below $100... eyes opened! To be fair, in any given week at home I do not spend $140, but there's a lot of bigger, non-regular expenses that push the number up (mostly travel spending I guess).

So, I'm hoping to spend $40 max this week. In a way, this is not a hard challenge. I don't need anything but basic groceries. Anything else that I 'need' I can always just wait until next week to get. At first, I thought that made it kind of a wussy challenge, but actually even just postponing a purchase helps to stop and think about whether or not you really really need to spend the money.

Spending so far:Monday: groceries at $8.79, 7 bike miles (I don't have a car so not counting bike miles as savings... I just get excited listing bike miles)Tuesday: $0 spent, 7 bike miles

I'm listing these urges because it is pretty educational for me to even realize how many times a week I do think about making purchases. I am not counting the fact that I didn't actually buy all these things as 'savings' for the challenge because I normally don't buy something right away when I think about it first anyway.

Will post here at the end of the week (and maybe also throughout) to say how I did. Feel free to join / comment to help keep me accountable!

ps. I am new here and wasn't sure whether to post under 'throw down the gauntlet' or 'continue the blog conversation', so feel free to move it / tell me how to move it if I picked the wrong board :)

Spending so far: Monday: groceries at $8.79, 7 bike miles (I don't have a car so not counting bike miles as savings... I just get excited listing bike miles)Tuesday: $0 spent, 7 bike milesWednesday: veggies at farmer's market $3, 6 bike milesThursday: groceries for $4.84, 7 bike miles

Spending urges:Water fountain for my cats (quick search: $20-60)Expensive name brand clothing article ($45)Gym membership for the summer semester ($30) - will probably buy this one next Monday when that semester startsBirthday present for party ($??)

which means I stayed well below my goal of $40 max for the week. Hurray! Since my main spending is on groceries in any given week, this challenge was mostly helpful in the grocery store / at the farmer's market. It helped me only buy stuff I really needed, and it pushed me to use up my leftovers and make meals with supplies I already had in my pantry more than I usually do.

I installed my own tile floor which saved $3000... I don't know if it counts. I ripped off my deck and will pour my own concrete patio soon. I usually budget $7500 a year in home improvements and upgrades. By doing it all myself I usually get over $20,000 in upgrades for my $7500. I don't play the equity increase game with my net worth. My house is one of the very few things that I put money into for luxury. I figure since I spend a majority of my time here it is worth it. If I would quit selling them when I get done I could end the madness. Seems like every time I get one done someone offers me way too much money for it and I start over.

This is digging up an old thread but I just want to say that I love Madison and miss it like crazy! The Farmer's Market on Saturday was awesome and it is such a bike friendly city. Good times in a great place.